Kawasaki MotoGP boss says Marco's contract isn't concrete until Japan give it the go-ahead
KAWASAKI MOTOGP boss Michael Bartholemy has said that the deal to sign Marco Melandri to Kawasaki has NOT been finalised, despite what you may have read elsewhere.
The chances of the deal for Marco to switch from Ducati to the green bikes is likely to go ahead though. Speaking last night, Bartholemy said: "We have reached an agreement with Marco Melandri meaning that he would join us for the next two years, but the deal still has to be approved by Kawasaki in Japan."
And as far as the future of hard-charging Aussie Anthony West goes on the green bikes, Bartholemy added: "Anthony will not be part of the main Kawasaki MotoGP team next season but we want to offer him a contract to remain as a Kawasaki factory rider, because we have invested a lot in him to bring him up a level since he joined us last year. That could mean that Anthony rides for us in another World Championship series."
World Superbike anyone? Bye bye Regis...
But it sounds as though the third-bike into MotoGP plan that Kawasaki put out several weeks ago is full-steam ahead, which could be an outside chance of West staying in MotoGP after all. Bartholemy said: "If we do run a third bike it would be up to the sponsors and the management who the rider is, but Anthony could be part of the package that we offer. In Misano we should be able to confirm that Melandri has joined us and we should be able to clarify the situation with the third bike."
